Introduction

Christopher F Foss JDW Land Forces Editor

As a result of changing operational requirements, an increasing number of countries are now considering acquiring, or have already acquired, fleets of light armoured vehicles (LAVs).

The US Army for many years has been almost a totally tracked force, but the decision to rapidly form Interim Brigade Combat Teams has led to an intense international competition. Many countries around the world have loaned vehicles to the army for extensive trials at no cost to Ft Hood and Aberdeen Proving Grounds.

The US Army was originally expected to decide whether to choose an all-wheeled solution or a mix of tracked and wheeled vehicles early this month, but the announcement has been delayed.

Wheeled vehicles offer the user a number of significant advantages, including lower operating costs and greater strategic mobility. They are also viewed as less threatening than their tracked counterparts. They are easier to transport by air and many of these vehicles are air-portable in a Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules transport aircraft.

Outside the former Warsaw Pact countries, most wheeled armoured fighting vehicles were, for a long time, of the 4 x 4 type, but over the last few years there has been a clear trend towards acquiring 6 x 6 and 8 x 8 types with their increased payloads and greater cross-country mobility.